Opening device for packaging containers

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an opening device for packaging containers that comprises at least one base element, which is placed on an opening of the container and which, in particular, completely surrounds the edge area of the opening on the outside and/or inside of the container. The opening device also comprises a covering element, which can be placed on the base element in order to cover the opening of the container. Said covering element has joining means for joining the covering element to the base element once the base element has been placed on the container, and has functional means for performing a predetermined function. The covering element advantageously comprises snap, detent, clamping, hinged or screw joining means for joining to the base element and, as a functional means, can comprise, for example, a closure part for reclosing the opening, a protective part for protecting the base element or a safety seal, which is irreversibly changed the first time the packaging container is opened.

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening device for packagingcontainers, more particularly a container for liquids, produced from amaterial web or a material sheet according to the preamble of claim 1and a covering element for such a device according to claim 21.

[0002] Such opening devices for packaging containers are for instanceknown from EP 0 658 480 A1 or EP 95 920 224.3, according to which atleast one base element is placed on a package produced from a materialweb or a material sheet, in particular, which comprises an opening inthe form of a hole or a hole indication, for instance, in the region ofthis container opening. Furthermore, these known opening devicescomprise at least one covering element for closing the opening, whereinthe covering element may be placed on the base element in such mannerthat the opening may both be closed and opened.

[0003] The preferred package type, which is produced from a laminate,which is produced from a cardboard or paper core with thermoplasticlayers and, optionally, aluminium foil, can be produced from acontinuous material web or from individual blanks. This package type isfrequently provided with an opening device which consists of a so-calledtear-off strip which is torn off when the package is opened. From EP-A-0558 946, it is also known to provide this package type with an outerthermoplastic structure which surrounds this strip. This thermoplasticstructure may be provided with a pouring element and a covering elementwhich may be folded onto each other by means of a hinge function and maybe rigidly interlocked due to their design. The strip, which is most ofthe time situated beneath this thermoplastic structure, often has a partwhich is unsealed and folded over the sealed portion of the strip. Thisfacilitates gripping the strip when the package is being opened and totear it off for opening the hole or the hole indication.

[0004] Moreover, it is known from DE 44 09 946 A1 or DE 199 04 837 C1,for instance, to tightly close the opening of packaging container, whichis formed of a web of packaging material which mainly consists of paperor plastic material, by means of a film-shaped foil or, respectively, apull tab or a plastic tab consisting of synthetic resin. In order toopen the seal of the opening, the foil or, respectively, the pull tab istorn off or, respectively, the foil is pierced with a drinking straw.The pull tab may be connected with the innermost layer of the containerlaminate so that the aseptic requirements are met when the container isbeing filled. This layer is initially torn during opening and thenremoved together with the tab in the opening area.

[0005] Finally, it is known from WO 00/47480 to provide an openingdevice for opening the sealing of a packaging container at a positionfor the opening such that an opening section is provided for opening thesealing of the sealing portion, an actuating section for actuating theopening section and a supporting section for supporting the actuatingsection in such a manner that the device for opening the sealing issafely attached to the packaging container. The opening section can forinstance be used inwardly in a hinge-like manner for piercing theoptionally pre-perforated opening.

[0006] All the above-mentioned opening devices comprise a thermoplasticstructure mounted on the opening of the packaging container, which isattached to the container surface in the opening area by means of ahot-melt adhesive. The drawback of these conventional opening devicesparticularly consists in that it is, most of the time, difficult toapply these thermoplastic structures since expensive positioning devicesare provided and that it cannot always reliably be avoided that thethermoplastic structure becomes detached during transport.

[0007] Also, the material edges of the opening of the packagingcontainer are not sealed by a thermoplastic structure applied onto thesurface of the packaging container so that the package material softenson the edges of the opening when the package content is poured out. Itis also difficult to reliably disinfect or, respectively, sterilize suchopening arrangements before the package is formed and filled.

[0008] There also arise difficulties during the gripping of the stripclosing the opening or during the initial tearing or, respectively,piercing of the strip, for instance when the unsealed unfolded sectionis pressed against the sealed section, due to the production process andthe treatment in the filling machine, such that it closely bears againstit and cannot be gripped, or when the thermoplastic structure is gluedonto the strip intended for tearing off due to positioning errors. Inthe known opening devices, strip parts often are left in the pouringopening and make it difficult to pour the package content unimpededly.

[0009] JP 09 254 967 discloses an opening device which is glued to thebase part on the inside of the package in the area of the opening.

[0010] It is the object underlying the invention to improve an openingdevice for packaging containers of the known type to the effect that theabove-described problems are avoided and to specify an opening devicewhich has a low overall height in order to ensure a flawless productionmethod and distribution method for the package and which may beuniversally employed for different packages and opening types.

[0011] The invention meets the underlying object by means of thecharacterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of theinvention are characterized and explained in detail in the subclaims. Acovering element for a device according to the invention ischaracterized in claim 21.

[0012] The inventive opening device for packaging containers which are,more particularly, produced from a laminate having a core of paper orcardboard onto which thermoplastic layers and, optionally, aluminium arelaminated, and which are most often produced from a continuous web, butmay also consist of individual material sheets, comprises at least onebase element which is placed on an opening of the packaging container,the opening having been pre-fabricated in the material web or thematerial sheet by punching, for instance.

[0013] A covering element, which may be used for closing or covering theopening, can be placed on the base element such that the opening iscovered or closed. The covering element according to the inventionfulfills a double function: on the one hand, the covering elementcomprises joining means for joining the covering element to the baseelement once the base element has been placed on the container and, onthe other hand, functional means for performing a predeterminablefunction. More particularly, the covering element comprises snap,detent, clamping, hinged or screw joining means for joining to the baseelement.

[0014] The covering element advantageously comprises a base portion,said base portion being joinable to the base element by means of a snap,detent, clamping or screw connection. As functional means, the coveringelement advantageously has a closure part which serves for closing thepackage and may be joined to the base part of the covering element bymeans of snap, detent, clamping, hinged or screw connection.

[0015] The covering element may be produced and mounted separately andmay be shaped in different ways according to the desired application.While the package together with the base element can be completelyfilled, folded and produced to be ready for packing or distribution,respectively, the covering element is advantageously fitted in a secondproduction step only.

[0016] The covering element may comprise, as a functional means, aclosure part for reclosing the opening, a protective part for protectingthe base element against damage due to the transporting of the packageor, for instance, also a safety seal which can be irreversibly changedthe first time the packaging container is opened or, respectively, whichis destroyed so that one can biuniquely determine whether third personshad already opened the package prior to that. However, other functionscan also be realized; for example, consumer information on paper may beapplied beneath the closure part, stickers may be applied as well asfigures or a combination of the above-mentioned functions may berealized.

[0017] Instead of the conventional strips or membranes for sealing theopening of the packaging container, the base element of the openingdevice according to the invention advantageously comprises an openingelement which can be removed for opening the container and which isjoined to the base element before the container is opened. Both the baseelement and the opening element are advantageously formed or injectedfrom a common thermoplastic structure so that the base element and theopening element are only separated when the container is opened for thefirst time as the opening element is removed from the base element.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the baseelement is attached to the edge area of the opening of the packagingcontainer such that it completely surrounds the edge area on the outsideand/or inside of the container and thus seals the packaging materialedges in the opening area on the inside of the container, in particular.

[0019] Since it is advantageously provided that the laminate edges ofthe packaging container are completely bordered, it is prevented that,for instance, a liquid in the container penetrates into the laminateand, thus, that the material edges in the opening area get soaked. Atthe same time, the base element of the opening device according to theinvention may safely and tightly be attached to the packaging containerso that it is avoided that the opening device gets torn off during theforming, folding and filling of the container as well as duringdistribution and at the end-user.

[0020] The base element for instance consists of an injectable plasticmaterial which may be injected, in the injection process, around theedge area of the opening for sealing the edges of the containermaterial. This so-called DIM technology (Direct Injection Molded)enables a quick and inexpensive production of the base element which isthereby tightly and firmly injected around the opening of the packagingcontainer and is advantageously also produced in one working processtogether with the opening element as well as, optionally, further partsof the base element.

[0021] The opening device according to the invention further comprises acovering element which may be produced separately. Due to the fact thatthe base element and the covering element are separate, there is alsoachieved a separation of functions for the opening device. Thus,different materials may be used both for the base element and thecovering element, which are especially adapted to the respectiveapplicational purpose.

[0022] According to a first advantageous variant of the presentinvention, the covering element is, for instance, integrally formed andis joined to the base element by means of a snap, detent, clamping,hinged or screw connection. According to a further advantageousembodiment of the present invention, the covering element is formed intwo parts with a closure part and a base part, wherein the base part canbe joined to the base element by means of a snap, detent, clamping,hinged or screw connection and the closing or, respectively, openingaction is carried out by the closure part which can be realized as alid, screw or bayonet closure part. According to the respectiveembodiment, the closure part can also be joined to the base part bymeans of a snap, detent, clamping, hinged or screw connection.

[0023] Thus, the invention discloses in an advantageous manner acovering element or, respectively, a closure part of the coveringelement which is configured to be exchangeable, i.e. detachable from thebase element, in particular, or, respectively from the base part of thebase element. Thus, opening devices may be produced which are providedwith a uniform base element whereas different covering elements may berealized according to the respective embodiment of the package or,respectively, the applicational field for the user of the package, whichelements can be joined to the very same base element by means of astandardized connection. Thus, the container is closed and sealed by thebase element and can be opened for the first time with the aid of theopening element of he base element. Reclosing of the package may beeffected, according to the respective form of application, by means of acovering element configured to be a screw closure, a lid, a bayonetclosure or a snap closure, for instance.

[0024] Since the covering element has two parts, standardized base partsmay be produced according to the respectively used base element asjoining means which may firmly be joined to the base element while thefunctional means may be configured in different shapes or colourdesigns.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the invention, the base partmay also be abandoned if the closure part is joined, for instance bymeans of a screw connection or a hinge, directly to a corresponding seatlike, for instance, a thread or a hinge carrier of the base element.

[0026] According to an advantageous variant of the invention, theopening element comprises an opening section which is joined to theopening element, wherein the opening element is removable by means ofthe opening section for opening the container and wherein the openingelement is provided with weakenings or, respectively, predeterminedbreaking points at the sites of connection to the base element. Theopening section may consist of a pull tab with the aid of which theopening element, which is for instance realized as a membrane, may bepulled off or, respectively, torn off.

[0027] In addition thereto, the opening section is advantageouslyconnected with a joining web with an aeration site of the openingelement, wherein the joining web opens the aeration site when theopening section is actuated and before the opening element itself isremoved. Since the aeration site is opened, air may enter the packagingcontainer before the opening of the packaging is actually opened so thatthe product level of the package content drops and an unintentionalpouring-out or spillage of the package content is prevented when theopening element is opened. The aeration site is, for instance,constituted by a material weakening or a thin membrane of the openingelement and is, in the area of the joining web, connected with thejoining web so that, when the opening section is actuated, the thinmembrane or the material of the opening element, which is weakened atthis site, is torn so that air can penetrate into the packagingcontainer.

[0028] When the covering element is placed onto the base element, thereare provided various means for sealing the covering element or,respectively, the base part of the covering element, in case thecovering element is realized in two parts. For example, these sealingelements can be, in the case of a screw joining, sealing lips providedon the lower end of the cylinder of the covering element, which isprovided with an internal thread, which lips hit the basis of the baseelement, when the covering element is screwed onto the base element,which basis surrounds the edge area of the opening, in order to seal theopening in such a manner. In case the covering element is realized as alid, this lid may equally be provided with sealing means oncorresponding webs or edges protruding in the direction of the baseelement, which means seal the opening with corresponding surfaces or,respectively, parts of the base element when the lid is clapped on.

[0029] Advantageously, the covering element or, respectively, the basepart of the covering element is provided with a pouring element, saidelement being a further functional means for pouring pourable packagecontents situated on the edge side of the package, where the opening isadvantageously provided. Also, the covering element may be provided withan extension on this side so that the covering element may be grippedand opened.

[0030] The covering element or, respectively, the closure part and thebase part is advantageously produced from a harder plastic material likepolypropylene, for example, whereas the base element or, respectively,the base element or, respectively, the opening element consists of asofter plastic material like polyethylene, for example, which isoptionally injectable.

[0031] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now beexplained in detail upon reference to the following drawings; therein:

[0032]FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional sectional view through the openingdevice according to the invention;

[0033]FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the opening device according toFIG. 1;

[0034]FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional sectional view through the openedopening device;

[0035]FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional sectional view through the openingdevice after it has been opened for the first time and the openingelement has been removed;

[0036]FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional aspect of the base elementdisposed on the package; and

[0037]FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of a preferred coveringelement.

[0038]FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional sectional view through theopening device for packaging containers according to the invention,comprising a base element 1 which is placed on an opening of container11. Base element 1 is joined to a two-piece covering element which maybe used for closing the opening (preferred function).

[0039] Base element 1 comprises an opening element 1 a which may beremoved for opening container 11 and is joined to base element 1. Baseelement 1 encircles edge area 9 of the opening 26 of container 11 bymeans of an outer edge 14 a and an inner edge 14 b so that the materialedges in edge area 9 of container 11 are completely encircled. It mayalso be seen from FIG. 2 that outer edge 14 a and inner edge 14 b arejoined by means of an edge 15 of base element 1 which is perpendicularthereto and protrudes from opening 26. Edge 25 rises above outer edge 14a, opening element 1 a being joined to base element 1 on the side ofedge 25 facing away from opening 26.

[0040] It may also be seen from FIG. 2, which shows a sectional view ofan aspect of the opening according to the invention following FIG. 1,that opening element 1 a has an opening section 4 in the form of a pulltab loosely hanging over opening element 1 a, opening section 4 beingjoined to opening element 1 a. Opening element 1 a may be removed bymeans of opening section 4 for opening container 11, opening element 1 abeing provided, on edge 21 of base element 1 in particular, withweakenings 14 or, respectively, predetermined breaking points. Openingsection 4 is joined to opening element 1 a for opening container 11 viaa joining section 10 and to an aeration site 20 of opening element 1 avia a joining web 21, joining web 21 opening aeration site 20 whenopening section 4 is actuated before removal of opening element 1 a.

[0041] Aeration site 20 can be realized as a material weakening or athin membrane of opening element 1 a in the area of joining web 21. Thisarea is joined to joining web 21 such that aeration site 20 is openedand air may penetrate into the packaging container when opening section4 is lifted or, respectively, actuated, whereby the product level dropsand an unintentional pouring-out of the package content is preventedwhen opening element 1 a is opened, especially when forces act on thepackage during opening.

[0042] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, which isshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, covering element 2 is realized in two parts.Covering element 2 comprises a closure part 3 a and a base part 3 b.Closure part 3 a and base part 3 b are joined to a hinge-like section 8which serves for lifting closure part 3 a by means of an extension 16(see also FIG. 3 and FIG. 6). Base part 3 b is joined to base element 1by means of a snap-connection, base part 3 b comprising a hook-shapeddetent element 15 in the form of a circumferential shoulder which gripsunder a web 18 laterally protruding from edge 25 of base element 1 andoptionally comprises a shoulder 13 lying on the side of base part 3 bfacing base element 1, which is supported on outer edge 14 a of baseelement 1.

[0043] Covering element 2 comprises a sealing web 17 which protrudesdownwardly from covering element 2 or, respectively, from closure part 3a, in the direction of opening 26, and which comes to rest on edge 25and/or laterally protruding web 18 of base element 1 in the area ofsealing surface 12 when opening 26 is closed. This sealing surface 12,which is represented in FIG. 1, is situated on the upper area of edge 25or, respectively, laterally protruding web 18, but outside the area ofweakening 19 of opening element 1 a so that, after removal of openingelement 1 a, sealing of opening 26 of container 11 is ensured.

[0044] Covering element 2 or, respectively, base part 3 b advantageouslycomprises a sealing edge 23 which is optionally bent, which pointsupwardly in the direction of detent element 15 opposite opening 26 andwhich comes to rest on the side of edge 25 opposite opening 15 and/or oflaterally protruding web 18 of base element 1 when opening 26 is closed,i.e. when covering element 2 or, respectively, closure part 3 a isclapped on. Sealing web 17 and/or sealing edge 23 is advantageouslyprovided with an additional sealing lip for sealing the package.

[0045] While the inside of container 11 may be sterilized without anyproblems due to the integrated design of base element 1, there remain,even after opening element 1 a has been removed, only insignificantproduct residues in the area of sealing web 17 which closes opening 26in the area of sealing surface 12. This prevents, for instance, liquidscontained in the package from penetrating into or under detent elementof covering element 2. Sealing web 17 is advantageously situated onclosure part 3 a and sealing edge is situated on base part 3 b ofcovering element. Furthermore, sealing means may be provided in the formof a collar area 7 being molded outwardly and optionally being providedwith a sealing lip, which is situated between closure part 3 a and basepart 3 b of closure element 2 so that these two parts are tightly lockedto each other. This collar area 7 is situated on the upper end, i.e. theone facing away from opening 26, and perpendicularly with respect tosealing edge, in parallel with outer edge 14 a of base element 1.

[0046]FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional section through the openingdevice according to the invention with closure part 3 a being opened. Oncan see collar area 7, which adjoins hinge-like section 8, as well as apouring element 24 for pouring pourable package contents, which equallyadjoins collar area 7 of base part 3 b of covering element 2, and anextension 16 on the side of covering element 2 opposite hinge-likesection 8, or of closure part 3 a, for opening covering element 2.

[0047] Moreover, FIG. 3 represents weakenings 19, whereby openingelement 1 a can easily be removed and separated by means of openingsection 4. Opening element 1 a is advantageously pulled off along edge25 of base element 1 along weakenings 19, successively and in a circularor helix-like movement. Thus, weakenings 19 are not only situated onedge 25 of base element 1 a, but also on or, respectively, withinopening element 1 a so that this may be pulled off with little force incircular or helix-like movements.

[0048]FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional section through the openingdevice according to the invention with opening element 1 a being pulledoff, i.e. removed. Closed closure part 3 a rests, with sealing web 17,on edge 25 or, respectively, web 18 of the base element 1. Pouringelement 24 is encircled or, respectively, covered by extension so thatan outwardly pleasing and aesthetical design may be realized for thecovering element or, respectively, the opening device according to theinvention.

[0049]FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the rectangular base element 1 havingan outer edge 14 a, an opening section 4 and weakenings 19 which areattached to be helix-shaped or circular. One can also see web 18 of edge25 of base element 1, which is attached for the attachment of coveringelement 2 and which is rectangularly circumferential. As can be seen inFIG. 5, container 11 is tightly closed after base element 1 has beenapplied. Now, different shapes and designs of covering elements 2 may beapplied on this base element 1, web 18 for instance serving to providedetent action for corresponding covering elements 2.

[0050]FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of covering element 2 which isrealized in two parts, a closure part 3 a and a base part 3 b. Closurepart 3 a and base part 3 b are joined to each other by means of ahinge-like section 8 while base part 3 b comprises detent element 15 fordetent action on base element 1, which is formed as an inwardlypotruding and circumferential edge.

[0051] Due to the opening device according to the invention, the use ofhot-melt adhesives for applying base element 1 can be renounced. Theproduction method may also be configured to very easy since coveringelement 2 may be “clicked” onto base element 1 by means of a simpleapplicator. Positioning of covering element 2 is also easy to realize bymeans of the snap connection.

[0052] The forces required for opening the opening device are very lowdue to the incorporation of the predetermined breaking points or,respectively, weakenings 19 into opening element 1 a so that almost noload is put onto the package and any spillage of the package content isavoided during opening. Also, the device according to the inventioncomprises a favourable geometrical ratio between the outer geometricaldimensions of base element 1 and covering element 2 and the net surfaceof the pouring opening since almost the whole area of base element 1 maybe realized as a pouring opening. A low overall height of between 3.5and 7.5 mm, about 5.8 mm in the embodiment shown, may be realized forthe opening device so that the production, transport and logistics ofcorresponding packages may be realized to be easy.

[0053] Due to the functional, technical and marketing-strategicalseparation between base element 1 and covering element 2, base element 1may, as an opening solution with a technically determined design, may berealized to be flat and simple, whereby well injectable geometricalshapes may be produced which are suitable for DIM technology.

[0054] On the other hand, covering element 2 may comprise a morecomplex, aesthetically determined geometrical shape or, respectively,design various screw, snap, click or bayonet closures may be realizedwhich may be designed in different colours. Thus, the very same baseelement can be employed for the most varying applicational casesaccording to the covering element used.

1. An opening device for packaging comprising at least one base element(1) which is firmly joined to the packaging container in the area of anopening (26) of the container (11) and a covering element (2) which canbe placed on the base element (1) for covering the opening (26) of thecontainer, characterized in that the covering element (2) comprisesjoining means for joining the covering element (2) to the base element(1) once the base element (1) has been placed on the container (11) andfunctional means for performing a predeterminable function.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the covering element (2)comprises snap, detent, clamping, hinged or screw joining means forjoining to the base element (1).
 3. A device according to any of claims1 or 2, characterized in the covering element (2) comprises, asfunctional means, a closure part (3 a) for reclosing the opening (26), aprotective part for protecting the base element (1) or a safety sealwhich can be irreversibly changed the first time the packaging containeris opened.
 4. A device according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that the base element (1) completely surrounds the edgearea (9) of the opening (26) on the outside and/or inside of thecontainer.
 5. A device according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that the base element (1) consists of an injectableplastic material which may be injected, in an injection process, aroundthe edge area (9) of the opening (26) for sealing the edges of thecontainer material.
 6. A device according to any of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the base element (1) comprises an openingelement (1 a) which may be removed for opening the container (11) andwhich is joined to the base element (1) before the container (11) isopened.
 7. A device according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that the base element (1) completely encircles the edgearea (9) of the opening (26) with an outer edge (14 a) and an inner edge(14 b), that the outer edge (14 a) and the inner edge (14 b) are joinedto each other by means of an edge (25) of the base element (1) beingperpendicular thereto and protruding from the opening (26), and that theopening element (1) is joined to the base element (1) on the side of theedge (25) facing away from the opening (26).
 8. A device according toany of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening element(1 a) comprises an opening section (4) which is joined to the openingelement (1 a), and that the opening element (1 a) is removable by meansof the opening section (4) for opening the container (11), wherein theopening element (1 a) is provided with weakenings or, respectively,predetermined breaking points on the edge (25) of the base element (1),in particular.
 9. A device according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that the opening section (4) is joined, via a joiningsection (10), with the opening element (1 a) for opening the container(11) and, with a joining web (21), with an aeration site (20) of theopening element (1 a), wherein the joining web (21) opens the aerationsite (20) when the opening section (4) is actuated and before theopening element (1 a) is removed.
 10. A device according to any of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the aeration site (20) is amaterial weakening or a thin membrane of the opening element (1 a) inthe area of the joining web (21) and is joined to the joining web (21).11. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized inthat the covering element (2) comprises, as a functional means, aclosure part (3 a) and, as a joining means, a base part (3 b), that theclosure part (3 a) and the base part (3 b) are joined to a hinge-likesection (8) and that the base part (3 b) may be joined to the baseelement (1) by means of a snap-connection, wherein the base part (3 b)comprises a hook-shaped detent element (15) which grips under a web (18)laterally protruding from the edge (25) of the base element (1) andoptionally comprises a shoulder (13) which is supported on the outeredge (14 a) of the base element (1).
 12. A device according to any ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the covering element (2)comprises a sealing web (17) which comes to rest on edge 25 and/or thelaterally protruding web (18) of the base element (1) in the area of asealing surface (12) when the opening (26) is closed.
 13. A deviceaccording to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that thecovering element (2) comprises a sealing edge (23) which is optionallybent, which comes to rest on the side of the edge (25) opposite theopening (26) and/or of the laterally protruding web (18) of the baseelement (1) when the opening (26) is closed.
 14. A device according toany of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the sealing web (17)and/or the sealing edge (23) is provided with an additional sealing lip.15. A device according to any of claims 11 to 14, characterized in thatthe sealing web (17) is placed on the closure part (3 a) and the sealingedge (23) is placed on the base part (3 b) of the covering element (2).16. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized inthat the closure part (3 a) and the base part (2) of the coveringelement are tightly locked to each other by means of a collar area (7)being molded outwardly and optionally being provided with a sealing lip.17. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized inthat the covering element (2) comprises, as further functional means, apouring element (24) for pouring out pourable package contents and anextension (16) on the side of the covering element (2) opposite thehinge-like section (8), for opening the covering element (2).
 18. Adevice according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe covering element (2) or, respectively, the closure part (3 a) andthe base part (3 b) consist of a harder plastic material likepolypropylene, for example, and the base element (1) or, respectively,the opening element (1 a) consists of a softer plastic material likepolyethylene, for example.
 19. A device according to any of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the covering element (2) or,respectively, the closure part (3 a) is configured to be exchangeable,i.e. detachable from the base element (1), in particular, or,respectively, from the base part (3 b).
 20. A device according to any ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the closure part (3 a) is alid, screw or bayonet closure.
 21. A covering element for a deviceaccording to any of the preceding claims, wherein the covering element(2) can be placed on the base element (1) for covering the opening (26)of the container (11), characterized in that the covering element (2)comprises joining means for joining the covering element (2) to the baseelement (1) after the base element (1) has been placed on the container(11), and functional means for performing a predeterminable function.